Farnsfield Parish Council to take control of its £100,000 section 106 community funds from Newark and Sherwood District Council

Funding totalling over £100,000 is to be given to a parish council.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet agreed the transferal of the funding to Farnsfield Parish Council at its meeting on Tuesday, October 31.

Council leader Paul Peacock said: “I personally think we should be empowering our parish and town councils.

“They are best placed to know what is needed in their parish or town.”

The funding is made up of two section 106 contributions, of £73,331.47 and £68,416.61.

The money must be used for improvement of community facilities, and are contributions made by housebuilders for developments in the parish.

The council will have the power to use the £141,748.08 total for its projects to improve community facilities at the village hall, bowls, football, cricket or tennis clubs as it deems appropriate.

The district council will ensure that the monies are only used as intended through its agreement with the parish council.

A report to cabinet stated: “As the district council has no direct local connection with the potential recipients of this funding, it is felt appropriate that the parish council should take local ownership of the development of the projects which can receive financial support from the transferred funds and will deliver community value and benefit.”

It added this had been successful in other parishes — and Rhona Holloway supported the approach, suggesting it would also be helpful for her ward of Bilsthorpe.

Officers confirmed the where possible the council would devolve control of section 106 funding to the relevant town council.